Israeli military says it boarded 2 Gaza-bound aid ships
An Israeli navy vessel patrols off the southern port of Ashdod on July 19.
November 4th, 2011
10:39 AM ET

Israeli military says it boarded 2 Gaza-bound aid ships

[Updated at 10:50 a.m. ET] Israeli sailors boarded two aid ships headed to the Palestinian territory of Gaza, the military said Friday, and no resistance was reported.

The Israel Defense Forces earlier said that the activists on board the "Freedom Waves" mini-flotilla were "attempting to break the maritime security blockade that is in place in accordance with international law" and were refusing to heed their calls to turn back.

"The boarding was carried out in line with directives from the Israeli government and after all attempts to prevent the vessels from reaching the Gaza Strip were made, but to no avail," the IDF said.

"The boarding was carried out following numerous calls to the activists on board and during different points at sea. Following their unwillingness to cooperate, and after ignoring calls to divert to the port of Ashdod, the decision was made to board the vessels and lead them there."

The IDF said the sailors "took every precaution necessary to ensure the safety of the activists on board the vessels as well as themselves."

"Upon arrival of the vessels at the Ashdod port, the activists will be transferred to the custody of the Israel Police and immigration authorities in the Ministry of Interior."

According to the activist organizers, this mission was the eleventh attempt to run Israel's blockade of Gaza by sea. Five missions arrived safely in Gaza between August and December 2008, with the rest intercepted by Israel.

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Filed under: Israel • Palestinians
soundoff (26 Responses)
  1. Bimbo the Birthday Clown

    If anyone has a problem with this blockade, direct your complaints to Hamas.

    November 4, 2011 at 11:04 am | Report abuse |
    • michaelfury

      http://michaelfury.wordpress.com/2008/12/31/dignity/

      November 4, 2011 at 11:10 am | Report abuse |
    • tif31

      @yep

      Nope

      November 4, 2011 at 5:22 pm | Report abuse |
  2. saywhat

    There are 25 passengers on these boats from 5 countries including Canada, USA, Irish Parliment members & Australia. Carrying besides desperately needed humanitarian supplies, letters of hope from thousands of Americans to the beseiged Palestinians in Gaza. To draw world attention to the stranglehold of the Zionist regime on Gaza , ever tightening since 2006.
    Even after the terror attack of IDF on Audacity of Hope in which besides others an American was also murdered, these humanists are not deterred. I join thousands of my fellow Americans, Christians & Jews who supported this effort against hateful methods of suppression, in praying for the safety of these brave, peace loving people.
    May they succeed- Amen.

    November 4, 2011 at 1:26 pm | Report abuse |
    • Bimbo the Birthday Clown

      A word of advice, if you want to be taken seriously by more people, try dropping "Zionist Regime" from your lexicon.

      November 4, 2011 at 3:51 pm | Report abuse |
    • Thinker23

      If the y wanted to bring "desperately needed supplies" to Gaza they would bring these supplies to Israel to be transferred to Gaza. Trying to breach the blockade is a sure way to NOT deliver anything to Gaza.

      November 5, 2011 at 1:52 am | Report abuse |
    • a dude

      one of the ships they boarded said it didn't have any cargo.

      November 5, 2011 at 6:42 am | Report abuse |
  3. saywhat

    Bravo to the brave Jewish women like Rebecca Vilkomerson & Cecilia Surasky of the pro-Israel pro- peace org Jewish Voice for Peace. Jeremy Ben-Ami & David Gilo of JStreet & thousands others including greatly respected memebers of the Rabbinical leaders like Rabbi Michael Lerner & Menachim Fruman & many other distinguished names for their efforts in standing up on the side of truth & justice.

    November 4, 2011 at 1:40 pm | Report abuse |
    • Thinker23

      It's interesting that you're unable to name any brave Palestinian men and women standing up on the side of truth & justice. Coincidence?

      November 5, 2011 at 1:55 am | Report abuse |
    • a dude

      i didn't know that suicide bombers and genocidal leaders stand for ""truth & justice"

      November 5, 2011 at 6:44 am | Report abuse |
  4. saywhat

    @ yep

    any & all efforts count.

    November 4, 2011 at 1:41 pm | Report abuse |
  5. Mycology

    weird – I thought Israel just wanted to slaughter people wrecklessly? I wonder why no one died here

    is it maybe... MAYBE because no one tried to kill the israelis with pipes and knives and beatings?

    Peace will be had, when peace is their (muslims) intention.

    November 4, 2011 at 4:24 pm | Report abuse |
    • evensteven

      If it was the Israeli's intention to have peace, they would have never occupied . . .

      November 4, 2011 at 6:59 pm | Report abuse |
    • Thinker23

      Well, they DID NOT occupy... To the contrary, they WITHDREW from Gaza several years ago... and since then the Palestinians were doing everything they could to bring Israelis back.

      November 5, 2011 at 1:56 am | Report abuse |
    • a dude

      the occupation is an unfortunate result of having 3 ARAB NATIONS ATTACKING YOU SIMULTANEOUSLY and another 19 screaming for your death. the occupation is n arab self inflicted scenario.

      November 5, 2011 at 6:49 am | Report abuse |
    • Thinker23

      It's pretty comical that no one of those complaining about Israeli occupation was able to NAME THE STATE the occupied lands belonged to...

      November 5, 2011 at 7:42 am | Report abuse |
  6. Bimbo the Birthday Clown

    The aid and letters are meaningless. There are two crossings open for aid by land. This is all about running the blockade. It is a counter-productive measure. Attempting to run through the blockade just demonstrates to the hard-liners in Israel why a blockade is needed, especially when the ships are Hamas sponsored and when violence occurs.

    November 4, 2011 at 6:35 pm | Report abuse |
  7. evensteven

    A round of applause for Israel—they didn't kill anyone in this incident so far. That's an accomplishment . . .

    November 4, 2011 at 6:58 pm | Report abuse |
  8. Henk in Colorado

    Referring to a different story this week on CNN: we should hand over these activists to their muslim friends, to be used for organ harvesting, with that saving the lives of some innocents who just want to look for a job.

    November 4, 2011 at 7:49 pm | Report abuse |
  9. Frank Airport

    Canada had better get their creeps under control or it's time for strict visa restrictions on Canadians.

    November 5, 2011 at 1:21 am | Report abuse |
  10. sunnyd55

    There will be peace between Israel and Palestine only when the love of a Palestinian mother for her children (son) is greater than her hatred for Israel

    November 5, 2011 at 6:52 am | Report abuse |
  11. Israeli MOSSAD...God's little helpers.

    Israelis boarded an aid ship bound for Gaza, eh? Maybe the got the AIDS.

    November 5, 2011 at 11:43 am | Report abuse |
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